Decoratively covered object of irregular surface contour and method



March 7, 1939. s. w. 'HOWLETT DEGORATIVELY COVERED OBJECT OF IRREGULAR SURFACE CONTOUR AND METHOD Filed June 10, 1936 4 Shets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1939. sqw HQWLETT 2,149,293

DECORATIVELY COVERED OBJECT OF IRREGULAR SURFACE CONTOUR AND METHOD Filed June 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mama-WW7? March 7, 1939; ca. w. HQWLETT DECORATIVELY COVERED OBJECT OF IRREGULAR SURFACE CONTOUR AND METHOD Filed June 10, 1936 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 7, 1939. s. w. HOWLETT 2,149,293

DECORATIVELY COVERED OBJECT OF IRREGULAR SURFACE CONTOUR AND METHOD Y Filed June 10, 1936 4 sheets-sheet 4 @10. v F21? j! Patente dMar. 7', 1939 PATENT" OFFICE DECORATIVELY COVERED OBJECT OF IR- REGULAR SURFACE CONTOUR AND METH- OD Grayle Hewlett, Evanston, Ill. Application June 10, 1936, Serial No. 84,429

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in decoratively covered irregular shaped objects and a method and means for manufacturing the same, and refers specifically to a decoratively covered heel wherein the decorative covering is uniformly united to the heel surface throughout the entire area of the covering, and a method and means for continuously applying and decorating said covering.

Decorative coverings have heretoforebeen applied to heels in the form of a sheet of elastic Celluloid or the like which has previously been embossed to produce thereon the grain marks of leather. The application of such covers is substantially a'manual operation and is relatively expensive. In addition, in stretching the sheet over the peripheral surface of the heel the embossed marks are frequently obliterated or stretched out which, of course, is undesirable. Further, the sheet is usually only united to the heel by adhesive along the edges thereof, and if cracked readily peels from the heel.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a covered heel characterized in that the covering is applied in the fluid state and is consequently uniformly secured to the heel throughout the entire area of the covering. Prior to the setting of the fluid upon the heel surface the same may be embossed to provide the characteristic grain marks of leather.

The process of my invention is preferably con- -tinuous and automatic, reducing manual operation and hence cost to a minimum. The apparatus is comparatively simple and ideally adapt-.- able for carrying out my process.

Briefly described, my 'process comprises passing heels forwardly continuously in seriatim, during such passagespraying or otherwise coating the heel with a suitable coating and prior to the complete setting of the coating, rolling the coated heel upon a die or mold whereby the desired decorative marks are formed in the coating.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from theaaccompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In thedrawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevationalview of a suitable rying out my process and making my product.

Fig. 21s a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on .line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are a series of sectional views apparatus for ca'rillustrating the rolling of the coated heel over the die or mold, said sections being taken respectively upon lines 5 -5, 6-6 and 'l! of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a face view of the mold or die.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 5 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the finished heel.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken through the heel shown in Fig. 10 illustrating particularly the covering thereof.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the device for tipping the heel prior to its contact with the mold.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I, I indicate legs or supports for oppositely disposed longitudinally extending frame members 2 and 3. 15 l The frame members 2 and 3 are spaced by end supports 4 and 5. A shaft 6 is journalled at each of its ends in the frame members 2 and 3 adjacent one end of the machine. A shaft 1 is similarly journalled at the opposite end thereof. A pair of sprocket wheels 8 are mounted upon shaft 6 and a corresponding pair of sprocket wheels 9 are mounted upon shaft 1. Sprocket wheel I0 is also mounted upon one end of shaft 1 and is driven by sprocket chain I] which is trained around sprocket pinion l2 mounted upon shaft l3 of a conventional speed reducing mechanism H. The input to the speed reducing mechanism comprises a pulley l5 which is driven by means of a belt IS, the belt in turn being driven by pulley I! mounted on the armature shaft of motor l8.

Sprocket chains I9, I 9 travel around both pairs of sprocket wheels 8 and '9 in a continuous or endless fashion. A plurality of bars 20 are secured to the chains l9, said bars transversely spanning the space between said chains. The bars 20 are spaced from each other along the length of chains Hi, the degree of said spacing being determined, as will be hereinafter more fully described, by the length of the mechanism which resiliently 40 forces the heels to be coated into contact with the mold or die.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 it will be seen that each bar 20 carries intermediate its length a bearing 2| in which a pin 22 is journalled, the axis ofsaid pin extending at right angles to the length of the bar 20'. At one end of the pin 22 a pinion 23 is keyed and rigidly secured to the opposite-end of said pin on the opposite side. of bar 20 is a coil spring 24. The coils of the spring 24 are normally in contactwith each other and the pitch of said coils is relatively small. At the opposite end of the spring 24 a sharpened pin 25 is mounted. During the operation of the machine in carrying out my process, the bottom of the g and .when the heels are heels 26 to be coated are impaled upon the points of the pins 25.

When the motor I6 is set in operation, chains l9 travel continuously over sprocket wheels 8 and 9. When each of the pins pass around sprocket wheel 8 a heel 26 is impaled thereon. In this manner, as will be hereinafter more fully described, the heels are continuously carried forwardly-to be coated and subsequently acted. on to produce the desired decorative graining.

Lug 21 is rigidly secured at one end to pin 22 impaled upon pins 25 they are placed thereon at a definite position with respect to the lug 21. This relationship is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Strips 28 and 28' are secured at their ends to the frame member 2 and extend substantially horizontally toward the opposite frame member 3. Similar strips 29 and 29,- are secured at their ends to the frame member 3 and extend oppositely toward frame member 2. Adjacent the path of travel of chains I9, the

' strips 28, 28, 29 and 29 are bent upwardly to a point above the path of travel of chains l9 and are again bent to bring the free ends of the strips horizontally over the path of travel of the chains. The free ends of the strips 28 carry a guide bar 30 which is curved outwardly at one end. The free ends of strips 29 carry a similar guide bar 3| which is positioned oppositely from the guide bar 30. Similarly to free ends of strips 28' carry guide bar 30 and the free ends of strips '29 carry spaced guide bar 3|. The arrangement is such that as chains l9 travel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, lugs 21 contact the curved ends of the opposite guide bars 30 and 3| and in order to permit passage of the lugs forwardly, said lugs must be so moved as to dispose their longitudinal axes parallel to the length of the guide bars 30 and 3|. As has been hereinbefore pointed out the heels 26 are impaled at a predetermined position with respect to the position of the'lugs 21. Consequently, when said lugs are so moved as to be disposed with their axes parallel to the guide bars 3|) and 3|, the beds 26 will be carried forwardly in a predetermined position.

A standard or support 32 is mounted upon frame member 2 and is provided with an elongated central bore 33 which is adapted to receive a spindle 34. The spindle 34 carries a clamp 35 at its upper end which, in turn, is adapted to carry a spray gun 36 having a nozzle 31. The spray gun 36 is movable longitudinally within the clamp 35 and may be locked therein by means: of bolt 38. The spindle 34 is movable vertically within the bore 33 and may be locked at a desired position by means of the set screw 39. The gun 36 is connected by means of flexible conduits 4|] and 40 to respective sources of coating liquid and air under pressure (not shown). The character of the coating material delivered by gun 36 will be hereinafter more fully described.

A bracket 4| may be secured by means of bolts 42 or the like to the frame member 3 directly opposite the gun 36. The bracket 4| is provided with an extension 43 which projects beneath-the path of travel of one of the chains H). A rack 44 is secured by means of screws 45 or the like to the extension 43, said rack being provided with a plurality of gear teeth 46. In operation, when chains |9 have moved a heel 26 and its supporting assembly to the vicinity of rack 44, the pinion 23 engages the teeth 46 upon said rack. Simultaneously a trigger (not shown) which is adapted to actuate the spray gun 36, is tripped by volume of spray 41.

If desired, the spray gun 36 may be actuated by means (not shown) to swing the gun during the entire period of rotation of the heel, so that the spray will be trained on the heel. during the entire period of its rotation.

When the heel leaves the vicinity of the rack 44 a trigger (not shown) is tripped by the movement of one of the chains l9 so as to shut off the spray. The coating fluid which I prefer to use comprises a cellulosic compound or mixture, the

mixture comprising in general nitrocellulose, an

active solvent, a diluent and a plasticizer. The characteristics of this material are such that when dry or set it forms a durable, attractive surface,

and the proportions of the materials are so selected as to provide a fluid which may be readily dispersed from a spray gun and which will partially set before the graining operation takes place. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact proportions which are hereinafter set forth. In general, I have found that a mixture comprising 128 ounces of diluent, 128 ounces of active solvent, ,2 pounds of nitrocellulose and 1 to 4 pounds of plasticizer provide a suitable mixture. As specific materials I have found that a composition comprising the following materials in the proportions given makes a suitable coating mixture:

' Ounces Amyl acetate 16 Denatured alcohol 8 Benzol or toluol 48 Ethyl acetate 24 Olium recini (castor oil) 32 Nitrocellulose 16 Desired pigment in suitable quantity to produce the desired color.

In the above set forth list alcohols may be substituted as diluents for benzol or toluol. In general, esters or ketones may be utilized as active solvents, for instance, butyl acetate, amyl acetate or Cellusolve, being esters, may be used in place of ethyl acetate or among the ketones, acetone or ethyl methyl ketone may be substituted for the ethyl acetate. In place of castor oil as a plasticizer linseed oil, dibutyl phthalate or other well known plasticizing compounds may be used.

If desired, gums such as dammar, ester, synthetic resins, may be added to the above materials in suitable proportions to increase the solid content of the'mixture and produce a more flexible resulting film. Such gums may, if desired, be used along with proper diluents and/or solvents in place of the cellulosic mixture above suggested. However, in general the material sprayed upon the heel must be one which is capable of resulting in'a relatively durable and attractive film and one over which the rate of drying or setting can be controlled so that the subsequent step of graining or embossing can be carried out while the film is in a suitable plastic condition. y

5| may be adjustably disposed and If desired, the sprayed material may com- =prisea thermo-plastic material'which may be permitted to completely set after spraying and before graining. In order to emboss such a film the heels may be passed through a preheating zone before graining whereby the film may be changed to the plastic state,. and, if desired, the embossing die may be heated to perform the embossing operation without the application of ex cessive pressures. Of course, regardless of the material used to establish the film the embossing pressure will be dependent upon the hardness of the film during the embossing operation, as hereinafter described.

After leaving rack 44 the heel is carried forwardly by the chains l9 and again said heels are oriented by rails 36' and 3| which act upon lugs 21. In this manner the heels are carried forwardly to the embossing unit designated generally at 48. It can readily be seen, therefore, that the proportions of the materials sprayed upon the heel, particularly with reference to the diluents and solvents, must be correlated with the distance between the point of spraying and the embossing unit 48 taken inconjunction with the rate of travel of the chains l9 so that the film carried by the heel is in proper plastic condition to be acted upon in the embossing unit 48.

The embossing unit 48 comprises a bracket 49 which is securedto the frame member 3 by means of bolts 50. A standard 5| having a base portion 52 and an upwardly extending portion 53 is adjustably mounted upon bracket 49, the adjustable mounting comprising a set screw 54 which extends through slot 55 provided in the base member 52. .By this provision the standard locked at a desired position determined by the length of slot 55. The upright member 53 is provided with a central bore 56 in which a spindle 51 is adapted to be positioned. The spindle 51 is movable longitudinally within bore 56 and may be locked at a desired position vertically by a set screw 58. A lug 59 is pivotally secured to the upper end of the spindle 51, said lug being rigidly attached or formed integral with frame 66. By the provision of the pivotal mounting of frame 60 upon spindle 51, said frame may be moved to a desired angular position and may be locked in such position by means of a winged nut 6|. The frame 66 is adapted to carry an embossing mold 62 which may be locked in said frame by means of set screw 63. The embossing mold 62 comprises ablock having a portion 63' of its face provided with a surface contour which conforms with the exterior or coated surface of heel 26, that is, the development of such external surface excluding the breast of the heel.

During the embossing operation each heel 26 is rolled over the section 63' of the mold 62 and therefore the section 63' of the mold is formed with a surface contour which will register with the surface of the heel during the rolling opera tion. The face of the section 63' is adapted to contain a series of relatively minute projections or indentations which resemble in inverse relationship the grain marks of leather. To provide such surface the block 62 including the section 63' may be cast from metal as a unit, the indentations and projections being cast upon the surface of the section 632, If desired the mold 62 may be so cast as to provide-at the section 63' only the surface contour of the rolled heel and the embossing projections and indentations may be carried upon a strip 64 which may be spring bearing upon sleeve 66 ,adhesively 'or' otherwise secured to the face of In this event the surface of the strip 64 serves as the embossing surface. The strip 64 may be constructed of leather, hard rubber, or any material which can 'be embossed to the section 63'.

' provide the desired projections and indentations -and which may be shaped to conform with the surface contour of the section 63'. In the event this latter typeof embossing surface is used, it is preferable that the strip 64 be backed with a layer or sheet of resilient material whereby compensation may be made for'slight variations in the surface contours of heels which are presumably. similar but which are actually slightly different in contour.

Opposite to the mold 62 a pair of standards 65 are secured to rail or frame member 2 by means of bolts 66 or the like. of the standards 65 is provided with a sleeve 94 in which a shaft or rod 61 is positioned. The shaft or rod 61 is slidably but non-rotatably positioned within the sleeve 94 and it may be prevented from rotating by the end of screw 68 which acts as a key by registering with the keyway 69 provided in the surface of shaft 61. At

- the outer end of each of the shafts 61 a U-shaped and 12 a shaft member 10 is rigidly carried, the arms 1| of said member serving as bearings for 13 upon which a pulley. spring 15 embraces shaft 61 between sleeve 94 and the member 10, the opposite ends of said coil and the member 10. As can readily be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 4, the pulleys 14 are vertically positioned adjacent the path of travel of the heels 26. A belt 16 is trained around the spaced pulleys 14 and is provided with a relatively high friction surface.

A bevel gear 11 is keyed to shaft 1 and meshes with bevel pinion 18 carried by-shaft 19. Shaft 19 is journalled in spaced bearings which are formed integral with the bracket or support 8|. A sprocket wheel 82 (Fig. 2) is mounted at the upper end of shaft 19 and is adapted to drive sprocket chain 83 which, in turn, is trained around sprocket wheel 84 carried upon the lower end of one of the shafts 13. In this manner one of the pulleys 14 is driven from shaft 1 and through the medium of belt 16 drives the other pulley 14. In practice the linear speed of belt 16 is equal to or slightly greater than the linear speed of the chains l9. The purpose of'so driving belt 16 will be hereinafter more fully described.

Cams l9 are mounted upon the outer side of the chain l9 which travels adjacent the frame member 2, said cams being mounted slightly in advance of thecross members or bars 26, considered in the direction of travel of the chains. An

extension (not shown) is provided upon the lower.

end of the shaft 13 upon whichthe driven pulley 14 is mounted, said extension being positioned in the path of travel of cams l9.

As chains I9 move forwardly carrying the coated heels toward unit 48. cams l9 contact the above mentioned extension of the'shaft 13,-and consequently the driven pulley 14 is moved backwardly away from the passing heel against the tension of the first spring 15. This permits the positioning of the heel between the belt 16 and die. After-the heel has assumedthis position cam l9 will have so moved as to permit the returnofthe driven pulley 14 to its normal position and, hence, the belt 16 will exert a lateral The upper end of'each' 14 is mounted. A coil 6 member 2.

pressure upon the heel tending to move the same toward the die.

An arm 85, Fig. 12, is pivotally connected to member 86 which, in turn, is mounted upon frame The pivotal connection comprises a pin 81 embracing which is a spring 88 anchored at one end to the member 86 and at the other end upon arm 85. The arrangement is such that spring 88 resists motion of arm 85 in a clockwise direction. The end of arm 85 extends in the path of travel of the upper portion of the coil spring 24. Consequently, as the chains I9 move forwardly the upper end of the coil spring 214 is contacted by the end of arm 85 just prior to the period when lug 2'! leaves tracks 30' and 3|. This action tilts the spring 26 in a backwardly direction and also in a direction toward mold 62 until the adjacent corner of the heel engages the side 89 of the section 63'. At the period that this engagement takes place the end of lug 21 will have left tracks 30 and 3| and, hence, heel- 26 will be free to rotate. Consequently, due to the motion of the belt 16 which resiliently presses said heel toward the section 63' of the mold 62,. the heel is rotated so that its external surface rolls over the mold or die 64. Inasmuch as the coating or film upon the external surface of the heel 26 at this period is in a more or less plastic condition, the projections and indentations formed in the surface of the die 64 will impress or emboss said plastic film carried upon the heel whereby the grain marks characteristic of leather will be imparted to the plastic film. By driving the belt 16 at a slightly greater speed than chains IS, the possibility of slippage occurring between the external face of the heel and the section 64 is eliminated. I By referring to Figs. 5, 6 and? the position of 'the heel 26 between the belt 16 and mold 62 is illustrated, said views respectively showing the heel at its initial position between the belt and the mold, at its central position and also at its final position. The three positions illustrated are indicated upon the development or mold illus- 5 trated in Fig. 8. When the heel leaves the mold 62 the second pulley I4 is moved away from the mold thereby compressing the spring 15 associ- 'ated with said pulley. Since this pulley consti: tutes the driving pulley, provision is made for maintaining chain 83 in taut condition and comprises an arm 90 pivotally connected at 9| to frame member 2. A spring 92 embraces the piv.- ot pin and is anchored at one end upon the pivot pin and at the other upon an intermediate portion of arm 96.

of arm 90 and contacts chain 85. The heels 26 which pass from the embossing unit 48 are carried forwardly and may be subsequently removed from the pins 25, or said heels may be passed through 0 a drying conduit in which warm air may be circulated. The drying conduit is not shown but may be of conventional construction. If desired the return path of travel of chains l9 may be enclosed and warm air may be circulated through 5 the enclosed space thus formed. In this case the dried heels may be removed from the pins 25 just prior to the impalement of the uncoated heels.

To prevent the semi-plastic film carried upon the surface of the heel from adhering to the embossing surface 63, said surface may be periodically sprayed with a material resembling a masking paste or resist. These materials are common in their use for similar purposes with lacquers and 5 I have found that the following mixture consti- A roller 93 is carried at the end tutes-a suitable masking paste or resist for purposes of my invention.

It is to be understood, of course, that the above composition is set forth merely for purposes of illustration and is not intended to serve as a limitation of my invention.

In carrying out the process of my invention, the material initially sprayed upon the heels may be compounded to match the color and sheen of the other portions of the shoes which they are adapted to be used, or a finishing coat of lacquer enamel or other like material made to match the shoes in color may be sprayed or otherwise applied over the dried embossed film.

By the expression external lateral surface" as used in the specification and claims with reference to the heels is meant, the surface of the heel excluding the top, bottom and breast portion.

One of the decided advantages of decoratively covered heels as made according to my invention resides in the fact that the covering film is caused to set in conformation with the surface contour of the heel. Although thecover may or may not qualitatively or chemically differ from a cover which is applied as a previously set flat sheet, physically there is a decided difference in that the cover during application has not been deformed and, consequently, when the heel does not possess the stresses of tension and compression which are existent at all times in the cover which must be bent to be applied to the heel surface.

I claim as my invention:

1. A heel prepared in accordance with the process of claim 4 having a portion of its surface covered with a continuous film comprising a cellulosic mixture, said film having decorative embossed marks, characterized in that said film is uniformly united to the entire external lateral surface of the heel throughout the entire area of the film. I

2. A heel prepared in accordance with the process of claim 4 having its lateral surface covered with a film having marks embossed only on the external lateral surface thereof, characterized in that said film is uniformly bonded to the entire surface of the heel throughout the entire area of the film.

3. A heel having a decoratively covered external lateral surface characterized in that the cover comprises a hardened film resulting from the spraying of a potentially hardenable liquid to said surface which has been embossed after partial setting and while in a plastic condition to simulate grain marks of leather.

4. A method of applying a decorative covering to a portion of a heel which comprises spraying a potentially hardenable film in the fiuid state to a portion of the heel, and embossing a predetermined portion of the film while in a plastic condition to simulate grain marks of leather.

5. A continuous method of applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises, passing the heels forwardly in seriatim, spraying a potentially hardenable film in the fluid state to a portion of the surface of each heel as it passes forwardly, and embossing said films carried on the heels as the heels travel forwardly while in a plastic condition with grain marks to simulate leatheri prior to the hardening of said film.

t. A continuous method of applying decorative coverings to heels comprising passing the heels forwardly in seriatim, applying a potentially hardenable film in the fluid state to a portion of the surface of each heel as it passes forwardly,

and rolling. each heel over an embossing surface as said heel travels forwardly and before the film upon said heel completely sets.

' 7. A method of applying a decorative covering to a portion of a heel which comprises spraying a potentially hardenable liquid film comprising nitro-cellulose,- a diluent, a solvent and a plasticizer to a portion of the surface of the heel, and

embossing said film while in a plastic condition to simulate grain marks of leather.

8. A method of applying a decorative covering to a portion 'of a heel which comprises spraying a potentiallyhardenable liquid film comprising nitro-cellulose, amyl acetate, denatured alcohol, benzol, ethyl acetate and castor oil to a portion of the surface of the heel. and embossing said film while in a plastic condition to simulate grain marks of leather.

9. A continuous method of applying decorative coverings to heels comprising passing the heels forwardly in seriatim, applying a potentially hardenable filmin the fluid state to a portion of the surface of each heel as it passes forwardly, rolling each heel over an embossing surface as said heel travels forwardly and before the film upon said heel completely sets, and periodically applying a resist to said embossing surface to prevent adherence of the films thereto.

10. A continuous method of applying decorative coverings to heels comprising passing the heels forwardly in seriatim, applying a potentially hardenable film in the fluid state to a portion of the surface of each heel as it passes forwardly, rolling each heel over an embossing surface as said heel travels forwardly and before the film upon said heel completely sets, and periodically applying a resist comprising glycerol, starch, pigment and water to said embossing surface to prevent adherence of the film thereto.

' GRAYLE W. HOWLE'I'I. 

